Geir Lippestad, Breivik's lawyer, said: “It’s hard for us to understand why he didn’t put down his weapon. It’s as if he was controlled by autopilot.”

In a rambling 1,500 page manifesto, Breivik made repeated references to the Knights Templar, a medieval Christian military order.

Breivik said he attempted to call police at least ten times during the Utoya attack on a Labor Party youth camp, but only got through twice.

The police has come under severe criticism over the massacre, with accusations that the attacks could have been prevented or the death toll reduced by a quicker response.

Police drove 20 miles from Oslo to Utoya because the helicopter crew were on holiday, while a television station arrived at the Utoya by helicopter 15 minutes before police.

In his first public hearing two weeks ago he claimed to be the commander of a Norwegian "resistance movement".

It was the first time victims and family and friends of the dead had seen the 32-year old since the attack.

Anne Leer, a journalist in court, said Breivik looked his victims straight in the eye when he entered the court.

"I am a military commander in the Norwegian resistance movement and Knights Templar Norway," Breivik said in a low and controlled voice. "Regarding the competence (of the court), I object to it because you received your mandate from organisations that support hate ideology (and) because it supports multiculturalism."